Airman surprises classmates with Hawaiian tradition Published Aug. 8, 2013 By Staff Sgt. Mike Meares 82nd Training Wing Public Affiars SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- A native Hawaiian Airman spread a little "Aloha" in Texas during his technical school graduation. Airman 1st Class Shawn Hanakawa, 363rd Training Squadron ammunition, graduated from his technical training Aug. 7, 2013. With more than 900 courses of instruction offered at Sheppard, the graduation setup was normal, all the way down to the flag placement on the stage, until Hanakawa took them all by surprise - a pleasant surprise. "We were graduating and it's a Hawaiian tradition to give leis to thank, honor or give respect to someone," Hanakawa said. Secretly, the 154th Wing, Hawaii Air National Guard bound Airman worked with family and friends from the island of Oahu to treat his new brothers and sisters in arms to a Hawaiian tradition. "It's not just hanging the lei around someone's neck and saying, 'here you go,'" Hanakawa said. "It's sacred to touch someone on the head and shoulders in ancient Hawaiian traditions." He stood in front of the graduating Airmen and explained the traditions in Hawaii when it comes to giving and receiving leis. Graduates of high school and college can sometimes get so many leis their heads are no longer visible through the variety of fragrant flowers and intricately sewn materials. The oral history of the floral lei dates back to the ancient Hawaiians who wore braided leaves, native flowers, shells, feathers, stones and bones to beautify themselves. They also offered these hand-made garlands to each other and to their gods as a symbol of love and friendship. "It was a sign of respect for the Airmen," he said. "Being presented a lei is much more than an empty gesture, it's about being family." Hanakawa said during his time at Sheppard, he will remember the Airmen he spent time with for many reasons. Like a family, he said they would argue about "ridiculous" topics like what to call soft drink; soda, pop or soda pop. But his newfound respect for the Air Force life has integrated with his lifelong respect for family--Hawaiian style. The New Englander of the class, Airman 1st Class Amanda Grimes, 19, of Somerset, Mass., nearly cried at the gesture, listening to the actual meaning of the lei. Since her first time West of the Mississippi River was to attend basic training and technical school, her only experience with the Hawaiian culture has come from what she's seen on television. "I've never left the east coast and never experienced anything like that before," she said. "It was very moving and beautiful, to the point that it brought tears to my eyes. You see the leis in the party stores and things and it really diminishes the true meaning of it." Hanakawa presented his instructors with a puakenikeni lei, made with the white flower pedals of Hawaii's most fragrant flower. The students were presented with an intricately sewn tea leaf lei. Hanakawa joined the Air Force on the encouragement of his wife's late uncle, Jerry Nunogawa, a retired Navy sailor. Nunogawa passed while Hanakawa was at Sheppard in training. "He encouraged me to join based on his experiences," he said. "Giving the leis to my class is something he would have done. He always did the right thing and thought of family first." Hanakawa w ill return home by the end of the week and reunite with his family and check in for the first time at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Upon arriving at the airport, he expects, like in local traditions, to have a lei greeting--it is a Hawaiian tradition.